Buoyant garment



June 2, 1959 a. E. MANNING 2,888,691

' I BUOYANT GARMENT Filedlay 17, 1957 F i s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

*6/2/7/7 g Wan/70y 8 I Q M Jur le 2, 1959 c;. E; MANNING 2,888,691

' uoym'r GARMENT I 7 Filed May 17, 1957 I 3- Sheets-Sheet 2 ZNVENTOR.

June 2, 1959 a. IKE-MANNING 7 91 BUOYANT GARMENT v Filed May 17, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

INVENTOR. G/enn Wan/fly BY United States Patent BUOYANT GARMENT Glenn IE. Manning, Kalispell, Mont. Application May 17, 1957, Serial No. 659,951

4 Claims. or. 9-20 The present invention relates to improvements in buoyant garments for sportsmen.

Garments provided with inflatable air spaces are well known in the art. Such garments are usually provided in the form of a suit having several compartments located above the mid section of the wearer adapted to be inflated to provide buoyancy for the wearer sufficient to support his body in the water. Garments of this type heretofore provided have several drawbacks, however, which render them impractical as safety garments for persons such as sportsmen who desire to remain active while clothed therein. One of the greatest drawbacks in garments of this type is that when inflated, the garments become so bulky as to restrict the movement of the wearer. Another drawback is that garments having a single air space which extends entirely around the body of the wearer are not stable in the water, for if the wearers body tips to one side substantially all of the air in the annular air space tends to rush to the highest portion of the air space, thus increasing the unbalance and causing overturning of the body. If the airspace is provided in separated compartments to prevent this, then the compartments must be inflated separately, and care must be taken to put equal pressure in each to give thenecessary stability.

-It is the principal purpose of this invention to provide a buoyant garment for sportsmen which includes an annular air space positioned above the mid section of the wearer, capable of holding sufficient air to support the wearer in' the water, but arranged so as not to hamper his freedom of movement while out of the water.

'Another object of the invention is to provide such a garment wherein the air space is divided into compartments to prevent displacement of air from one portion of the air space to another while the garment is supporting the wearer in the water, and wherein air pressure equalizing ports are provided between the compartments to remain open at all times while the garment is out of the water, but which will close automatically upon immersion of the garment to prevent air displacement between compartments.

A .further purpose of the invention is to provide on such a garment an inflatable collar piece adapted to rise above the remainder of the garment and to prevent water from entering over the top of the garment by wave action.

The nature and advantages of my invention will appear clearly from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form'of the invention is shown. It should be understood, however, that the description and drawings are illustrative only, and are not intended to limit the invention except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

. .In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a sportsman wearing my invention, illustrating the garment in its inflated condition out of the water;

Figure 2 is an elevational view illustrating the inflated garment supporting the wearer in the water;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, but showing the garment inflated and in the water;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, but showing the garment inflated and out of the water;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the garment illustrating the formation of the equalizing ducts connecting the front and rear compartments;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the construction of the ducts; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the pressure equalizing port between the two front air compartments in the garment.

Referring now to the drawings and to Figures 1, 2 and 3 in particular, my improved buoyant garment, generally indicated by the numeral 10, comprises a main body portion 11, generally tubular in shape to fit around the torso of the wearer beneath the arms. The body portion 11 has leg portions 12 and 13 depending therefrom. The leg portions are provided with boots 14 at their lower extremities. The garment 10 is constructed. of a water proof material such as rubber or a rubberized fabric, which is sufficiently pliable to permit freedom of movement of the wearer. The garment may be constructed by the ordinary processes of garment construction which include cutting and joining pieces together, or it may be molded as a single piece.

The garment 10 is worn as shown in Figures 1 and 2 over the, legs and torso, with the arm free above. In order to secure the garment 10 in place, supporting straps 15 and 16 are provided. The straps 15 and 16 are attached to the inside of the body portion 11 at the front and back and arranged to pass over the shoulders of the wearer. The straps 15 and 16 include adjusting buckles 17 and 18. v

The purpose of the garment is to provide for the wearer, support when in the water. To this end, the body portion 11 of the garment is formed of a double thickness, having an outer layer of fabric 11b folded downwardly outside' the outer layer of fabric 11b tapers inwardly somewhat,

from top to bottom, so that the air space 20 is larger at the top than at the bottom.

To inflate the air space 20, an inlet tube 21 is provided. Air may be introduced through the tube 21 by lung power. dimensions, extending from the chest to the waist of the wearer, and entirely around his body, it is not necessary that it be fully inflated to provide sufiicient buoyancy, so inflation may be stopped while the outer layer 11b of the body 11 is still loose, as shown in Figure 6. This amount of inflation, while suflicient for protection of the wearer, does not hamper his free movements to any great degree, since air may be readily shifted in the air space to allow compression of one or more portions during body movements, thus permitting the body 11 to remain v space, and inflating the upper portion until it becomes Patented June 2, 1959 Since the air space 20 is of considerable hard. This action produces a hard inflated ring around the body of the wearer at the chest level, above his center of gravity, sufficient to float him in an upright position, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

While it is desirable to have the air space 20 uncompartmentalized for free movement of air therein when the wearer is out of the water, whereby to permit freedom of movement of the wearer, and also quick inflation of the entire air space to a pressure uniform throughout the air space 20, it is most important that means be provided to prevent air movement from one portion of the air space to another while the garment is supporting the. wearer in the water. If such shifting were allowed, then all air would immediately rush to the highest portion of the air space 20 and cause the garment to tip and unbalance the wearer. To prevent air movement within the space 20 while the garment is immersed in the water, I provide four dividers or bulkheads 22, 23, 24 and 25 between the inner and outer layers 11a and 11b of the body 11. These dividers 22-25 separate the space 20 into four equal compartments 2&1, 20b, 20c, and Ztld. In order to inflate these compartments Zila-Ziid through the single inlet tube 21, and to previde for pressure equalization between compartments, equalizing ports or ducts are included between compartments. As shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, ducts 26 and 27 are provided in the connection band 19 which extend part way around the body 11 at each side, beneath the side dividers 23 and 24. The duct 26 has one end thereof open to the right front compartment 20a, adjacent the side divider 23, as shown at 28. The other end of the duct 26 opens into the right rear compartment 2th: adjacent the rear divider 25 as shown at 29, thus connecting the compartments 20a and 20c. The duct 27 has one end open to the left front compartment Ztlb adjacent the side divider 24, as shown at 30. The other end ofthe duct 27 opens to the left rear compartment 20d adjacent the rear divider 25 as shown at 31, thus connecting the compartments 2% and 20d. The front divider 22, unlike the dividers 23, 24 and 25, does not entirely separate the compartments 20a and 20b, but terminates a short distance above the band 19, to provide a port 32 which when open, will allow air circulation between compartments 20a and 20b. It will be seen that the construction just described, provides for air movement between the several compartments 20a-20d when thegarment is out of the water, so that upon inflation through the tube 21, equal pressure is obtained in each compartment.

When the wearer is supported in the water, however, and the air in the compartments 20a-20d is compressed into the upper portions thereof there will be no air circulation from one compartment to another. The ducts 26 and 27, being at the lowest part of the body member 11, will be collapsed and sealed by water pressure, as will the port 32 in the front divider 25. The construction hereinbefore described thus provides buoyancy means that can be inflated from a single source to uniform pressure, and that is entirely stable in the water.

My improved buoyant garment, constructed as hereinbefore described, provides adequate buoyancy to support the wearer in water too deep to wade in. It may be used for sportsmen such as hunters and fishermen as a protective garment when hunting or fishing near or in lake, streams and the like, and as a means of crossing water courses where no fording places are available. To cross a water course too deep to ford, the wearer merely walks out until the garment supports him free of the bottom, and then propels himself across the stream by kicking ,his feet.

I. have. found that the best propelling position is on ones back, and to provide for maintaining the wearer in this position without the danger of rolling to one side or the other, I reduce the transverse dimension of the rear divider 25, so that the rear compartments 20c and 20d are smaller immediately behind the wearer than at his sides, as shown in Figure 4. This produces a substantial stabilizing effect and prevents rolling to one side or the other while in propelling position.

The formation of the equalizing ducts 26 and 27 permits the wearer to attain a propelling position without any danger of air shift from the rear compartments toward the front, even though the position of the wearer in the water on his back may bring the lower ends of the side dividers near the water surface, and reduce the sealing tendency caused by water pressure. Since the rear openings 29 and 31 of the ducts 26 and 27 are each adjacent the rear divider 25, these openings are at the lowest point of the body 11 when the wearer is in propelling position. The openings 29 and 31 are maintained in a collapsed state, even though the opposite ends 28 and 3th of the ducts 26 and 27 are at or near the surface of the water.

To prevent water from being shipped when the wearer is floating in rough water and especially when he is in propelling position, I provide an inflated collar piece 33 which is attached to the top of the body 11 as illustrated in the drawings. The collar 33 is sealed from the'airspace 20 and has an inflating tube 34 thereon. The collar 33 is positioned at the rear of the body 11 to extend? upwardly behind the shoulders and neck of the wearer. When the wearer is in rough water, he can turn hisback on the waves and the collar 33 will deflect them, pre venting overflow into the interior of the garment. The collar 33 also afiords additional buoyancy behind the wearer when in propelling position, and also assistsin buoying the wearer up in the event that for one reason or another, the air in the compartments 2011-2011 suflicient to support the wearer. i

To provide for adjustment of the height of the body portion 11 to acconnnodate persons of different heights, I provide four equally spaced adjustment straps 35 inside the body 11. The straps 35 are fastened to thebody 11 at their upper and lower ends, and have length ad'- justing means 36, such as snap fasteners or buckles, intermediate their ends, by adjusting the length of the straps 35, the distance from the trouser portion of the garment to the top of the body may be varied as desired.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing thatrny invention provides an extremely useful and efficient buoyant garment for sportsmen. Due to the unique'constructi'on of the body 11, which includes the large, partially in flated air space 20, sufiicient air to support the wearer may be maintained without undue restriction of the wearers movements. The novel construction of the dividers 22, 23, 24, and 25, ducts 26 and 27, and port 32 provides the necessary compartmentalization ofthe air space 20 to give stability in the water while leaving the compartments open to each other for free air movement therebetween at all other times. The garment is thus maintained ever ready to provide stable buoyancy to the wearer, without inconveniencing him to any greatv extent.

It is believed that the nature and advantages of my invention appear clearly from the foregoing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A buoyant garment comprising a trouser portion having separate leg and foot portions adapted to 'cover the legs and feet of the wearer, and a body portion rising above said trouser portion and adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, said body portion adapted to terminate immediately below the arms of the wearer, said body portion having spaced inner and outer walls connected at their top and bottom and forming an enclosedannular air space between said walls adapted to encircle the body of the wearer and to extend from the top ofthe body portion downwardly at least to the waist of the wearer, means to inflate said air space, and dividers connecting said inner and outer walls to divide said air space into separate compartments, air duct means hetween the inner and outer walls near the bottom thereof bypassing the dividers to provide communication between said compartments, and said outer wall and said dividers being flexible to collapse and close said duct means when the air in said air space is compressed in the upper portion thereof by immersion of said garment in water.

2. A buoyant garment comprising a body member adapted to encircle the body of the wearer and to extend from a point immediately below the arms of the wearer downwardly at least to the waist of the wearer, said body member having spaced inner and outer walls connected together at their tops and bottoms and forming an enclosed annular air space between said walls adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, means to inflate said air space, dividers connecting said inner and outer Walls to divide said air space into separate compartments, air duct means between said inner and outer walls adjacent the bottoms thereof bypassing the dividers to provide communication between said compartments, and said outer wall and said dividers being flexible to collapse and close said duct means when the air in said air space is compressed in the upper portion thereof by immersion of said garment in water.

3. A buoyant garment comprising a trouser portion having separate leg and foot portions adapted to cover the legs and feet of the wearer, and a body portion rising above said trouser portion and adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, said body portion adapted to terminate immediately below the arms of the wearer, said body portion having spaced inner and outer walls connected at their top and bottom and forming an enclosed annular air space between said walls adapted to encircle the body of the wearer and to extend from the top of the body portion downwardly at least to the waist of the wearer, means to inflate said air space, and dividers connecting said inner and outer walls to divide said air space into separate compartments, air duct means between the inner and outer walls near the bottom thereof bypassing the dividers to provide communication between said compartments, and said outer wall and said dividers being flexible to collapse and close said duct means when the air in said air space is compressed in the upper portion thereof by immersion of said garment in water, and a hollow inflatable collar member secured to the top of said body portion and having inflatation means thereon, said collar being positioned on the body to lie behind the neck and shoulders of the wearer.

4. A buoyant garment comprising a body member adapt to encircle the body of the wearer and to extend from a point immediately below the arms of the wearer downwardly at least to the waist of the wearer, said body member having spaced inner and outer walls connected together at their tops and bottoms and forming an enclosed annular air space between said walls adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, means to inflate said air space, dividers connecting said inner and outer walls to divide said air space into separate compartments, air duct means between said inner and outer Walls adjacent the bottoms thereof bypassing the dividers to provide communication between said compartments, and said outer wall and said dividers being flexible to collapse and close said duct means when the air in said air space is compressed in the upper portion thereof by immersion of said garment in Water, and harness means connected to said body member operable to hold said body member vertically extended on the wearers body and to support said body member against vertical movement on the body of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,141,116 Horvath June 1, 1915 1,901,859 Anderson Mar. 21, 1933 2,276,072 Stokes Mar. 10, 1942 2,276,082 Meyers Mar. 10, 1942 2,292,490 Stokes Aug. 11, 1942 

